Christmas bargain thread 10 - my nan is looking for a small batmobile

[Reastie]

How could that quote not make it to thread title!

As previously, if you shot a link in the OP links isn’t working/no longer in date, please let me know by posting in bold so I can easily see to update

Thanks for the warning Trisis was just about to order the hamper with code. Think I'll wait a few hours if they need to sort a glitch in their system.

I got glitched by Boden earlier (sum total of my shopping so far) saw on here that they were cancelling things and they cancelled my WHOLE ORDER.

I was mad since due to the postage cost I have to bunch things and can't order bit by bit.

I have kind of had it with them and their early sales and vouchers for some people and not others. Cancelling the order was the final straw so I am sulking!

I haven't done AliExpress yet I can't decide what to do.

for this who haven't bought from them do you by from the overseas sellers on ebay? Surely it is the same stuff?

I have actually got one thing some stickers (Frozen of course) but they are not here yet so.....

Can I ask you all a question about photo canvases?
I haven't done them before but was wondering how good the resolution needs to be on the camera?
Are photos taken with an ipad good enough? what about a little point and shoot ones?

Also (and this is probably a really dumb one) if someone takes a photo and emails it to me can I down load that photo and get it put onto a canvas or does all the emailing affect the resolution?

that sounds dumb even to me!
it doesn't right?!

(it would be good to know for sure!)

twiddles fingers

tumbleweed rolls through

OK I guess you've all gone shopping

Yes trisis it was only the my first annabell moves. Went to sainsburys and they had nothing on sale.

Very unsuccessful shopping trip

I have no idea but since DH works for one of the biggest photographic companies in the UK, I will ask Clarinet and come back to you!!

Clarinet 9 - I haven't tried with an Ipad shot but have from a standard camera & my canvas came out beautifully . I don't think emailing effects it all as long as its in the right format eg jpeg or similar. What I think makes the difference in my humble opinion of having tried two different companies is the company you use .. my best one using offers was photobox as you could check as you went through process how good resolution etc was and it was easy to edit/adjust etc. I have done some beautiful photobooks with them & compared to the oher firm I used they are tons better.

HTH

I was in B&M (for the first time ever) yesterday and they had a few nice things. Mug sets for £1.99 some love hearts and Parma violet ones with little packet of the sweets inside, the mugs looked really nice, quite retro. Would be good secret santa or colleague present.

Also pack of six 'Frozen' chocolate bars for 79p good for a stocking or party bags. And some American type chocolate/sweets including peanut butter/mint/pretzel m&ms, jolly ranchers, reeses candies.

Sorry if this is a repeat, just wanted to let you know that poundworld (not land) have frozen advent calenders/sticker books/lunch boxes/water bottles.

Also, off topic but they have some fab halloween stuff!

According to DH the bigger the canvas you want, the bigger the resolution needs to be (at this point DH has gone off to phone the Canvas dept for clarification...). And the answer from them is...

Eg. If you wanted a 16" x 20" Canvas the image needs to be around 2.5MB file image, so has to be a Jpeg and if you right click it will tell you the MB size.

That will stop it being pixelated. But if you want it bigger, you need a bigger file. So general rule, the bigger the file the better the image.

As for the Ipad... they're not sure because they won't necessarily know where the emailed picture has come from so they don't know whether they've received 'OK' ipad pictures or not IYSWIM.

HTH

Trisis I mentioned up thread that happened to me with Thorntons stuff. I didn't think to contact them and ask. Hopefully they get it sorted because I was on the verge of getting £75 of stuff for £33!

Well I don't think the Toothless pillow pet from AliExpress is filled with asbestos.
I hope not anyway.

Really disappointed with the tesco sale too - really wanted to see the Belle Enchanted Tea Set before buying but mine didn't have any in store and weren't expecting any in. Not sure whether to go ahead and buy anyway or leave it as at just under 3 she doesn't even know it exists yet! Has anyone seen one? I really like the toddler dolls but she isn't overly bothered by them, so it's the tea set that will swing it for me - love Mrs Potts and Chip!

98 percent apparantly b&m has the enchanted tea set in store if you can get to one of those! I think it's £20 there too.

Sorry Fern, I hadn't seen your post - oops! They have called me back, forwarded my screen shots over to the website department and have refunded me the additional money. If I was a bit more savvy I would have asked for some free chocolate for the inconvenience, but as they got it sorted so quickly I didn't think it would be appropriate...

Clarinet as far as buying from overseas goes here is my experience.

I have bought from China on Amazon, Ebay and Ali Express. All appear to have similar stock and prices I've just chosen whoever has the best deal for the item at the time. Ali Express is usually cheaper as they include the postage but not necessarily a given.

On Ebay I use my Paypal account and this can make you feel more secure that there is a resolution process you can follow. On Ali Express I use my credit card as it protects more against fraud than using a debit card (I do this on UK sites that I'm not familiar with too). On Amazon I use debit or credit depending on where there is some spare money

Currently I'm about to start a dispute with Amazon as I'm waiting for a few items (Star shaped night light, finger lights, flashing bumpy rings - all things I didn't know I needed until I found this thread ) as they are past the last date of expected delivery.

I've not had any issues with Ali Express, but others on the thread have had good outcomes with their complaints process.

So I would say no difference at all other than pricing may be better on one than the other. If you are ordering from an overseas seller you're probably getting the same stuff and it will probably be shipped the same way...

Thanks everyone especially Bea and Trisis (especially because you didn't make me feel stupid)

I will try and find out the size of the photo (right click isn't telling me right now But I will try again in the morning)

Elvish I was wondering about the safety angle (re the loom band story) when buying stuff from ebayuk and AliExpress, I hear several people saying they are concerned about their stuff and was wondering whether they would have the same view if they bought it from overseas sellers on ebay UK.

Norks sorry it was unsuccessful

Smyths have some peppa pig items on reduced prices. I picked up the classroom set for £9.99 and the school and car set was £12. Had other bits too but cannot be specific enough to post confidently!

I am not having much luck with my ebay/amazon Chinese orders so far missing past last delivery date:
2 hex bug type things, 2 solar cockroaches, 2 sets finger lights, 3 invisible ink spy pens (all Amazon)
missing about to go over delivery time:
1 Princess Anna dress, 2 cheap ipod things, 2 watches
So just a tip keep a check on what you have ordered and if it has arrived!
things that have arrived but are not any good:
1 incorrect colour headphones
1 Anna/Elsa barbie type doll - arrived but tat
The Aliexpress Olaf disney knock off was lovely though.
I think I am going to get the soft dolls and a Sven as they do look lovely and will keep my fingers crossed they arrive.
I know someone who buys in bulk these sort of items then sells them on at a considerable profit so if you are wary of buying these imports I would avoid also market sellers and selling sites etc.

I know what you mean Clarinet, I think the safety issues have affected what I buy from overseas.

I have cheap plastic stuff but it won't be in contact with kids for hours - probably just 5 mins.

I am very happy with my Frozen plush toys but I wouldn't give them to a baby, I trust 5yo DD to let me know if it rips or has sharp bits (I have checked them obvs!)

I wonder whether people worried about loom bands and throwing them away are just getting rid of the ones they have imported themselves, or all of them wherever they are from I'm tempted to just get rid as they are a mess

I am wary of anything that might be fake - I bought DDs loom band board from a local shop thinking it was legit but later realized it pretty much definitely wasn't - dd2 ate some of the band's from that kit

I'm happy to buy unbranded stuff, but wary of the branded - too much motivation to put profit over safety.

The only other later realized it was definitely fake thing was a baby sling... One of the straps came unstitched!! That was from eBay and a UK seller.

Sainsbury's definitely don't have the toy sale on today, popped in earlier. I'm sure others are correct in that it's some time in Oct half term.

They did have a gorgeous babies santa outfit half price, reduced to £4 and a kid's pirate costume reduced to £6.50.

Anyone have soap fans in their family (in particular neighbours)? In the works they had a box for soap fans with a book all about the history of various soaps and a dvd specifically about the history of neighbours with iconic moments such as births, deaths and marriages and character profilea etc. It was £6.99 or two for £10 (they had various other box sets - one about yoga woth a book and a dvd. Forget ehat else but a dew different ones).